Ski'sen (sky-sehn)
The Ski'sen are one of the 4 races making up The Amix , and as such they have an inbuilt distrust to hatred for Animalians . This relationship originated from intense jealousy over The Animalian King 's clear favouritism for Humans , for they were given thoughts - were the first Mind. Such feelings bubbled and boiled for a very long time as events around the humans creation only rubbed salt in the wounds, again and again after the instigation of The Ae's War. Eventually, the birds created their own Mind... the Ski'sen.
Ski'sen are essentially humanoid birds, taking features from all sorts in a variety akin to humans; everything from having different coloured skin to different shaped hands. In fact even more so, for birds have the widest variety in shape and colour for them to take after.
By nature of the bird they were once very migratory, but the evolution of humanoid culture has resulted in a need to be somewhat grounded, so to speak. However being late to the game left them with no solid city foundation, so many Ski'sen are found in the 'refuge' city of Me'jas or flocking the floating islands of Heart's Dust but none are truly bound to one location forever for as long as they have their wings.
Of all the Amix races, they are the most animated and eager to please whatever takes their fancy. They may not be as viscous as the other Amix but they have their own charismatic way about things. Ski'sens are known for their extravagance, in particular when it comes to courting; dance sequences, building homes, constructing songs and even perfecting their appearance, they are flamboyant and proud of it.
Appearance
- A bird that mutated into a humanoid form, not specifically a crane or a finch but all that is 'bird.' Because of this, they seem to take on traits from multiple branches of birds
- Thick rounded chests with large breast bones, long necks to crane around to see for those that lack ocular muscles
- Thin scaled legs and taloned feet
- Feathered tails in any shape you can think of
- They do indeed have beaks but the split extends into their cheeks, allowing for a smile to still be given. Their nostrils are placed along the beak and are connected by a thin slit.
- Most notiable of course, is their flight-able wings which vary in size and shape depending on the environment their lineage has evolved from.
- Some are better adept at speed while others are perfectly silent in flight, but ALL have perfect maneuverability of each feather spine. This allows them to essentially curl and wrap their feathers around their arms when not in use to keep them out of the way to use their hands freely, which tends to give their arms a distinct striped appearance when grounded.
- The ability to fly is further aided by light hollow bones and air-sack organs, which makes for poor brute force warriors, hence Ski'sen acted more as scouts and mouthpieces during the wars.
- Finally, the majority of the body is covered in fine feathers that can range in colour and patterns only limited by imagination, and many sport a sort of crest on the head that is styled as willfully as hair.
Height & Weight: Ski'sen are smaller than humans when idle, averaging about 5ft. However, they can stretch and straighten their legs and necks to increase their 'height' by a foot or so if they so need. They are extremely lightweight due to their air-catching feathers and hollow bones, averaging about 45lbs / 20kg.
Features
Flight
Feathered arms can be uncurled into flight-able wings due to the Ski'sen's light-built bodies; hollow light bones and air sack organs within. They are highly adapted to cold temperatures and can breathe in higher altitudes. Some additionally have forms specialised in diving in and out of water or can even 'swim' for a fair distance like penguins.
It should be noted that in order to fly they are extremely light, smaller in stature and much more fragile to blunt-force trauma.
Talons
Hands and feet are much the same, both have talons and the 'thumbs' to grip and grab. The feet can even be used to hold on upside down in some cases - with a bit of practice. Their talons are notably sharp and potentially dangerous, so they are not completely without natural defences - lest we forget some also have wicked beaks.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Ski'sen names often have a fun peppy jump to the syllables or can essentially be 'sung' aloud.
Examples: Fhal, Nesper, Jecko or Welsee.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
A majority will know Ski even when in mixed communities as it is simply easier for their mouths to speak, however, they are obliging in learning to speak and write Penn but will tend to have a croaky undertune. Ski is also written, although less so, it uses Boric lettering and when spoken is a combination of chirps, clicks, squawks and purrs.
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